The Problem
Hardcoded Paths, Licenses and Computer Names are often saved in static files. MSI doesn’t have a standard action for changing content in a static file. Because of that I have created an AutoIt script that can handle this lack of build in Windows Installer functionality.
AutoIt is a very common tool for system administrators and software packagers as the compiled binary file does not depend on a runtime or prerequisite
The AutoIt Script
This is the code of the script:
$strFilePath = $CmdLine[1]$strFind = $CmdLine[2]
$strReplace = $CmdLine[3]$strText = FileRead($strFilePath,FileGetSize($strFilePath))
$strText = StringReplace($strText, $strFind, $strReplace)
FileDelete($strFilePath)
FileWrite($strFilePath,$strText)
The Command Line – as example replacing a server name in a text file
Replace.exe “[PathToTheFile]” “[SearchForString]” “[ReplaceWithString]”
PathToTheFile: exp. “C:\Program Files (x86)\Mathcad\Mathcad Prime 1.0\MathcadPrime.exe.config”
SearchForString: exp. “7788@test”
ReplaceWithString: exp. “7788@licsvr”
Implementation in a Windows Installer based Package
Add a new Custom Action in the Deferred Context:
Enter the Details for the Custom Action:
Select the script via clicking onto “Browse”.
Command Line: “[#MathcadPrime.exe.config]” “7788@test” “[ONTXPRIMELICENSEPORT]@[ONTXPRIMELICENSESERVER]”
Enter the Properties for the Custom Action:
Don’t forget to set “Processing” to “Synchronous, Ignore exit code”.
